Whether you bought yourself some roses or received cut flowers as a gift, they should never be missing from any special occasion in life, be it a birthday, college graduation, or wedding anniversary. Flowers not only bring peace and beauty, serving as lovely ornaments, but also symbolize feelings and positive energy.

Much more than decoration, unfortunately, flower bouquets don’t last long if you don’t know how to care for them. Fresh flowers in homes are creating a cozy, pleasant environment; however, to enjoy their splendor longer, it’s essential to provide adequate care. Often, small details can make the difference in the duration and freshness of these charming plants. Following simple steps and tips, along with proper advice, will help you extend your bouquet after Valentine’s Day.

Choosing a Bouquet That Lasts

Having worked with numerous bouquets over the years, I’ve learned that your chances of keeping flowers for several weeks start with carefully selecting them. When picking fresh blooms from your garden or florist, following numerous bouquets over the years, I’ve learned that your chances of keeping flowers for several weeks start with these rules: don’t be seduced by fully blooming flowers showing off their colors, their life expectancy has already begun. 

Nor should you opt for buds that are too young to have a chance to blossom. For peonies, tulips, ranunculus, and lilies, look for firm, colorful buds. For roses and sunflowers, choose flowers that have barely opened – they’ll bloom after a few hours or days in the vase. Make an exception for daisies, dahlias, and marigolds: these stop developing after picking, so they should be in full bloom when you take them home.

8 Best Tips for Keeping Boquet flowers Fresh Longer

Here are the top tips to keep flowers fresh longer.

Cutting Stems

The most common mistakes people forget about involve stem preparation. Florists typically re-cut stems before handing over your bouquet, which helps the flowers absorb water more effectively. Using clean, sharp garden scissors or a knife, shorten each stem by about two inches at a diagonal angle. 

This angled cut increases the absorption surface and prevents stems from resting on the bottom of the vase, which could block water flow. Bevelled cuts favor a better water supply and prevent stagnation. Some shrub branches, such as those of lilac and forsythia, prefer to have their base crushed rather than cut. Poppies benefit from cauterized stems – briefly pass the end over a flame from a lighter. Tulip and Gerbera (African daisy) stems should be cut horizontally, whereas most others require a crucial 45-degree cut.

Clean Vase And Water Care

Without roots, cut flowers don’t need potting soil – they need a clean vase and clear water. Choose a wide container that allows air to circulate between the flowers. Height depends on the variety: thick, rigid stems, such as those of heliopsis and ranunculus, require vases that are half their length, while supple stems, like those of lilies and irises, require taller containers to maintain their natural habit.

 Thoroughly clean your container to eliminate bacteria and microorganisms that cause flowers to wilt prematurely. Fill with lukewarm water; different species require different amounts. Mimosa, tulips, and gerberas need five centimetres of liquid, while roses should be submerged halfway. Use room temperature, slightly warm tap water. Change water daily for better absorption. One-third of the total stem length works as a good measure. Use glass or plastic vases to observe the water level and the dirt that has accumulated. Clean with bleach and rinse.

Placement And Environment

Finding the right spot requires avoiding several environmental hazards. Keep your bouquet in a bright, draft-free place away from radiators and heat sources. Cool rooms work best, avoid placing flowers directly in sunlight or near open windows and fans that create temperature fluctuations. 

Air conditioning and currents can cause stress to flowers, accelerating the drying process of petals and leading to wilting. High temperatures and rays cause blooms to wilt quickly. Here’s a well-kept secret: keep your arrangement away from fruit baskets. Fresh fruits, such as tomatoes, bananas, and apples, release small amounts of ethylene gas that accelerates aging and shorten life. Although the combination of colorful fruits on a table alongside your bouquet looks appealing, this gas produces effects that prolong the decline of flowers rather than their beauty.

Flower Food And Nutrients

Most florists supply nutrient sachets – dilute this packet in water as directed. If you’ve lost it, don’t worry; flowers will survive without it. Feed plants with flower food that works wonders and keeps them fresh longer. The package provides essential nutrients that help maintain beauty. You can create homemade cocktails using household items. Forget grandma’s tricks for keeping bouquets fresh – bleach, baking soda, lemon, sugar, vinegar, and salt are either ineffective or harmful to plants. Professional florists recommend proper flower food rather than experimenting with substances that might damage blooms.

Removing Leaves And Debris

To preserve bouquets longer, remove the leaves at the bottom that are most likely to get wet, fall into the water, and cause stagnation. This prevents bacterial proliferation and shortens the lifespan of the flowers. Remove thorns from roses so they don’t catch on other stems. However, advise leaving the ties that bind flowers, as they ensure the arrangement remains in harmony.

Another tip: remove guard petals to make your bouquet look richer. Remove any wilted leaves that fall into the water pot to prevent the spread of bacteria. If your florist hasn’t done this already, make sure to remove any foliage submerged in the vase water. Leaves in water rot, causing bacterial growth that affects the entire arrangement. Your bouquet will look more beautiful, and the water won’t get as dirty.

Regular Maintenance And Care

Keep water clean by changing it every 48 hours, or sooner if it starts to cloud. As on the first day, use tap water or rainwater at room temperature. When you cut the stem, the plant responds by allowing sap to flow out. 

After a few days, this may prevent the flower from receiving adequate water. To remedy this, shorten stems every two days using a well-cleaned knife. Avoid using pruning shears or scissors, as they can crush stems. To prune like a professional, do it under a trickle of water to avoid air bubbles. Check flowers regularly to remove any that are wilted. Trim stems again if necessary to allow better absorption. Feed your flowers and change water every two to three days for optimal results.

Avoiding Direct Sunlight And Heat

Once you’ve arranged your flowers and want to display them, DO NOT set your bouquet in direct sunlight. While sun is necessary for flowers to grow, once they’re cut, they need to be kept AWAY from the sun. Heat causes flowers to expire more quickly. 

The best place to display flowers is in a cool location, away from extreme temperatures, such as near radiators and kitchens. Windowsills are popular but will shorten your flowers’ life since the temperature and amount of sunshine on a windowsill vary throughout the day. Avoid placing your flower pot directly in sunlight or near heat sources. Flowers should be protected from temperature fluctuations and kept away from open windows or fans.

Keeping Flowers Away From Fruit

Ripening fruit like bananas, apples, avocados, peaches, and pears produces ethylene gas that causes flowers to wilt prematurely. If you have fresh fruit on your kitchen counters, the kitchen is not a great place to display flowers. 

Some flowers, such as Sweet Peas and Dahlias, are particularly sensitive and can wilt or expire nearly overnight when subjected to ethylene gas. Keep away from fruit bowls, as ripening fruits like bananas and apples emit ethylene gas that accelerates the deterioration of flowers. 

Fresh fruits release small amounts of ethylene gas, which shortens the life of fresh flowers. This means you should not keep fresh flowers around fresh fruits if you want to prolong their life.

Interesting Ways to Make Cut Flowers Last Longer

Certain remedies for improving human health have been passed down through generations, just as we have popular remedies for maintaining the beauty and freshness of cut flowers for a longer period. To use these tips, you will need access to the following items: garden scissors, a high ceramic vase, a small ceramic vase, soda packs, aspirin tablets, apple cider vinegar, and sugar. 

One popular remedy: add two tablespoons of sugar and mix with two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in warm water, then add the flowers. Vinegar acts as an antibacterial agent, while sugar serves as an additional food source. Secondly, crushing an aspirin in water lowers the pH level, allowing flowers to absorb nutrients more effectively and preventing wilting. Adding a copper coin acts as an acidifier, wiping out bacteria, and on the fourth day, the flowers open beautifully in the bowl.

How to Keep the Cut Flowers Fresh, Alive, and Healthy

Freshly cut flowers are perfect for brightening any space, but their freshness and longevity depend on factors such as bacteria, fungi, and dehydration. Other environmental factors that could shorten life include placing them in ventilated spaces, hot rooms, or under direct sunlight. If you take proper care of your cut flowers, they can stay fresh for between seven and twelve days. 

You should know there are more durable flowers, such as roses, daisies, lilies, freesia, and sunflowers. Fresh spring flowers, such as lilies, daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths, are more fragile and have a shorter lifespan compared to other flowers. Florists recommend taking some steps to keep the beauty longer: make an oblique cut 1-2 inches from the stem before placing it in a vase suitable for the number and length of the flowers. Long flowers can be cut and placed in smaller vases, where they support each other when they open. Flowers also need space, not to be crowded, so they can spread their roots.

Conclusion

Keeping flowers fresh for longer is all about providing them with the right care, from cutting stems properly to changing the water regularly and keeping them away from heat and fruit. 

These small efforts make a big difference in how long you can enjoy their beauty and charm at home. And if you’re looking to brighten up your space with the most beautiful arrangements, visit our flower shop in Jumeirah. Discover stunning bouquets, luxurious roses, and seasonal collections crafted to make every moment truly special. For orders or inquiries, feel free to contact us today,we’re here to bring nature’s elegance right to your door.